Reports state that alleged cancer fraudster Kristopher Nicholas Cook was beaten by fellow inmates at the Calgary Remand Centre.
Cook was the victim of a jailhouse beating on Sunday morning, the victim’s lawyer Joel Chevrefils told The Calgary Sun.
“On Sunday, sometime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., he was attacked in his cell by a number of assailants,” Chevrefils told the Sun, adding his client had to be taken to hospital after suffering a lacerated spleen, a broken nose and a chipped tooth.
“Obvioulsy he’s pretty concerned for his safety … he’s fearful of being returned back to the remand centre.”
Cook was to make his first court appearance on Monday to face fraud charges stemming from an event held on July 8, 2011, to raise funds for a man’s alleged cancer treatment.
The venue had been provided free of charge and guests paid thousands of dollars for various donated items. But following the event, attendees became skeptical the man was using the funds for cancer treatment and wondered whether he’d been diagnosed with cancer at all.
Cook was arrested in Victoria Last week.
Cook was brought back to Calgary on Saturday, the Calgary Herald reports, adding Cook allegedly told donors at the fundraiser that he’d been born in Texas and was ineligible for Alberta Health Care.
The Herald also states that Cook’s friends became suspicious when, rather than undergoing cancer treatment, he was seen spending late nights at the bar.
Public reaction to the allegations was vemenous, with readers and tweets calling for swift justice and condemning the alleged actions.
The scammer, Kristopher Cook, finally arrested; If it was up to me, I'd shove a cattle prod up his ass!
— Nat Kaos (@natkaos) September 12, 2012
Others simply applauded when Cook was arrested in dowtown Victoria.
“@beatrouteab: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. 660news.com/news/local/art…” Krisropher Cook has been arrested, effing amazing! #yyc#fraud#idiot
— miesha louie (@mieshalouie) September 12, 2012
Cook is still to make his first court appearance to answer to fraud charges.
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